Water Lantern Festival returns to light up Eisenhower Park

Thousands of lanterns float on the water aglow with hopes, dreams and memories as soothing music plays in the background while the sun sets. This is the vibe of the Water Lantern Festival, which returns to Eisenhower Park in East Meadow on Sept. 13.

“The event is rooted in connection and community,” Nate Sorensen, vice president of festival operations, said. “It kind of has a backyard barbecue feel early on. Once the lantern launch hits, that’s when things become more cinematic and emotional. It’s really cool to see that shift.”

The four-hour, rain or shine event has different sides to it. Here’s what the Water Lantern Festival is all about and how it flows.

A festive opening

The first few hours of the festival are playful. Live music plays as folks bring their own picnic food and shop at a vendors market featuring jewelry, pottery, paintings, clothing and knickknacks from local artisans. A Water Lantern Festival merchandise booth sells illuminating flower crowns, hacky sacks, air chairs, blankets and T-shirts.

Face painting, bubbles, cornhole and oversized Connect Four will keep kids busy. For even more fun, there's a scavenger hunt.

“Scan a QR code which gives you a list of things to find throughout the park for the scavenger hunt. If you find all the things on the list, take it to the merchandise tent to get a prize,” Tess Rowser, festival marketing manager, said. “It’s meant to engage everybody in the experience and socialize groups of kids.”

Start building

Every ticket comes with a lantern-making kit that includes a bamboo base, four pegs, rice paper, a marker, a tea light and conversation cards that can be used to start meaningful talks.

“It’s very simple to construct. The paper unfolds and fits right over the pegs that go into the base,” Rowser said. “The lantern has four different sides therefore people can add poems, letters and drawings along the walls.”

Lantern Stories

After the lanterns are made, there’s a 20-minute segment called Lantern Stories, in which participants take turns speaking to the crowd about what they put on their lanterns and why they came to the festival.

“It really gives context to later in the night when you see all the lanterns out on the water with all of these different messages. It links to what you recall from earlier in the evening by putting so much more meaning to the visual,” Sorensen said. “Sometimes people are going through struggles with addiction or they are just putting good vibes into the world because they want a job or they are manifesting something. I’ve even seen some wedding proposals occur on stage during Lantern Stories.”

Launch time

Set against a backdrop of acoustic music at sunset, the tone becomes more peaceful and serious during the water lantern lauch. After a DJ host announces the start of the launch, people head to the edge of the pond where they light their lanterns, put them in the water and watch them float.

“It’s an event that allows you to slow down and have time to reflect with your thoughts,” Rowser said. “There is a big population of people that come to pay respect and honor to those that have passed. Some couples also come together to put down their dreams and aspirations onto the lantern and let them out into the water.”

The festival also acts as a bonding moment where people connect on many levels.

“I think people will realize the more they connect with one another, the more we are alike and can learn from each other,” Sorensen said. “There’s a positivity that comes from this event and connecting with your community.”